Override of Mississippi’s Governor’s Veto Would Further Imperil Medicaid, Editorial Says

The Mississippi Legislature should not override Gov. Ronnie Musgrove's (D) veto of the state's Medicaid budget and instead should work up with him to "make best possible use of the funds available to the program," a Memphis Commercial Appeal editorial states (Memphis Commercial Appeal, 4/12). On April 9, Musgrove vetoed the Legislature's plan to appropriate $415 million in Medicaid funds for the fiscal year that begins July 1, saying an additional $121 million was needed to adequately fund the program (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 4/10). Lawmakers are expected to vote on an override on April 12, and legislative leaders predict they have the votes to do so. But doing so "will not help a single" Medicaid beneficiary, the editorial states. It adds that an override would deprive Musgrove of both the funds needed for Medicaid and the "flexibility" to manage the program more effectively. Musgrove has said he would approve a smaller budget if lawmakers gave the state's Medicaid director the "authority to reorganize the program." The Commercial Appeal concludes: "If lawmakers had a plan to deal with the escalating deficit in Mississippi's Medicaid program, an override might be in order. Instead, they are merely obstructing the governor's efforts to treat the program's multiple ills" (Memphis Commercial Appeal, 4/12).